-
Sugar Act
Parliament, knowing that the Sugar and Molasses Act was about to expire, issued a new Act on the colonies. Thr colonists were to pay 3 pence per gallon of a number of items including sugar, wines, coffee, pimiento, printed calico, and it regulated the buying of iron and lumber. -
Stamp Act
This Act taxed every printed piece of paper that the colonists bought. It included taxing ship papers, licenses, newspapers, legal documents, and even playing cards. This Act was to raise money for the stationed troops at the Appalachian Mountains, but it didn't raise a lot of money; the tax only upset the colonists. -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were meant to raise money for Great Britain. These Acts places taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea. All the taxes were repealed except for tea (see Tea Act). -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre ended with only five dead, but it was made out to be a massacre by the colonists. Tension was very high, and when the colonists and Royals clashed, it ended with a brawl. The Boston Massacre was made up of colonists tormenting soldiers, and when the scurry started, more and more people joined in on the fight. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was not to raise money, but to boost the East India Company and sell all their extra tea. The Act said that the colonists could only buy their tea directly from the British. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was in reaction to the Tea Act. Samuel Adams led a team of 50 men to some British ships that had just brought tea to America and had them dump the tea overboard. There were 342 chests of tea split open and filling the harbor. -
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts of 1774, also called the Coercive Acts, were punishment for the Boston Tea Party. The Acts stopped all trade with the colonies, only Great Britain could import and export with the colonies; it closed the Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay; it also gave Quebec a recognized religion, Roman Catholisism. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress took place from September 5- October 26, 1774 at Carpenter's Hall in Philadephia. Delegates were sent from 12 of the colonies, and the Congress was just discussion about how awful Great Britain was treating the colonists. The resolution that the men came to was that they were going to inform the King about the grievances that the colonists had, and that they were going to show the world that they were all united as one. -
Lexington and Concord
The battles at Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the American Revolution. British soldiers were told to find and destroy weapons that were stored by the colonists at Concord. The colonists had heard word of the British preparing to attack, and the Patriots won both the battles. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was held to discuss the matter of battle, especially since Lexington and Concord just happened. The delegates attending established the Continental Army and elected George Washington as their commander-in-chief. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breed's Hill, but it got confused with Bunker Hill at the time. Overnight, American forces occupied the Hills so when the British woke the next morning they would be taken by surprise. After a long fight the Continentals were forced to retreat. Even though it was a victory, the British suffered heavy losses. -
The Olive Branch Petition
This Petition was adopted by the Second Contiental Congress and was sent to the King as a statement saying that the colonies had freedoms, and were still loyal to the Crown. King George had refused to read the petition. -
"Common Sense"
"Common Sense" was a pamphlet first published anonymously by Thomas Paine. It challenged the authority of the British monarch. It was written for the common colonists and gave courage to them; it also openly declared independence from Great Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was drafted mainly by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776. It stats that the colonies were officially seperating from Great Britain and it lists reasons why and what the King did wrong. -
Battle of Trenton
George Washington was forced out of New York, but he was going to fight the Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey. Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River overnight and surprised the British. The British had surrendered and it was a great victory for the Continental Army. -
Battle of Brandywine Creek
British General Sir William Howe planned to take Philadelphia, and George Washington tried to stop him. Even though the Continentals outnumbered the British by 2,000, they had to surrender to the Hessians. -
Battle of Saratoga
Great Britain had a plan to send a strong army to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. The Continentals caught word of the plan and met the British halfway. The British were forced to surrender. -
Valley Forge
George Washington and his men stayed at Valley Forge from December of 1777 to June of 1778. The Battle of Trenton was fought just across the River in 1776. The winter at Valley Forge was the hardest winter, many soldiers didnt have enough clothes or food. The winter also proved to be positive because Washington's men learned training, drills, and discipline. -
Siege of Charleston
The Siege of Charleston was a heavy loss for the Americans. The surrender terms allowed the British to get several thousand Continental soldiers and many of the supplies that the Americans had. It also gave the British almost complete control of the southern colonies. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris not only ended the French and Indian War, but it also ended the Revolutionary War, too. It stated that Great Britain understood that America was now a free country and all British troops were to be removed. It also set new boundaries for the new nation.
